CHICAGO (February 23, 2022)
 
In Short
Loyola University Chicago (22-6, 13-4 MVC) dominated play from start to finish at both ends of the floor to coast to an 82-31 victory over Evansville (6-22, 2-15 MVC) tonight at Gentile Arena on Senior Night. The Ramblers' 51-point margin of victory is the seventh-largest in Missouri Valley Conference history.
 
How It Happened
Following an emotional pregame ceremony in which Loyola honored its senior class, both teams struggled out of the gate on the offensive end.  After a Chris Knight bucket inside opened the scoring, 2-0, with just over 90 seconds gone, Blake Sisley connected on a straightway three that snapped a stretch which saw Evansville misfire on its first six attempts, giving the Purple Aces a 3-2 lead at the 15:46 mark.  
 
Loyola quickly found its footing, with triples from Braden Norris and Keith Clemons providing the bookends to a 13-0 Rambler run that sent the Maroon & Gold charging in front, 15-3.  A baseline drive from Emmette Page trimmed the lead to 15-5, but Loyola kept its foot on the gas, extending the lead to 24-5 on a Tate Hall put back with 8:53 remaining the prompted an Evansville timeout. 
 
The stoppage did little to slow down a red-hot Loyola attack, as the Ramblers stormed into halftime with a 41-12 advantage, operating at a scorching 64 percent (18-for-28) from the field in the opening 20 minutes. 
 
Lucas Williamson splashed home a deep three just 41 seconds in, pushing the lead to 44-12 as Loyola continued to roll.  Aher Uguak threw down at the 14:44 mark as part of surge that saw the Ramblers rattle off 13 answered points to extend the gap to 57-15 en route to their 12^th home win of the year.
 
Inside The Box Score
- All 11 Ramblers to see action in tonight's game scored at least two points, highlighted by Uguak's game-best, 13 points. The forward added six rebounds, two assists and three steals in only 24 minutes of work.
- Williamson provided 11 points, while Clemons totaled a season-high 10 points, three boards, four assists and two steals.
- Senior walk-on Will Alcock went for a career-best nine points in only six minutes of action. 
- Norris produced nine points and five assists and Ryan Schwieger pitched in eight points.
- Loyola shot a blistering 62 percent (31-for-50) from the field and limited the Purple Aces to a paltry 10-for-39 (.256) effort from the field, including just 18.2 percent (4-for-22) in the opening period.
- Evansville's 31 points ties for the fewest in a MVC game since the advent of the shot clock in 1985-86.
- The 51-point victory was Loyola's largest margin of victory since a 133-69 decision over Loras on November 25, 1978.
- Loyola surrendered only 31 points, the fewest allowed by a Rambler squad since a 50-26 win against Beloit on February 9, 1952.
 
Up Next
Loyola closes out its 2021-22 regular season slate on Saturday (Feb. 26) when it battles Northern Iowa for the Missouri Valley Conference regular season crown.  Tip-off from inside the McLeod Center is set for 5 p.m. in a matchup that will be televised on ESPNU.